Dwight Howard says LeBron is better than Kobe, but ‘late in the game, I’m giving the ball to Kobe’

LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are two of the more talented players ever to suit up for the Los Angeles Lakers, and that’s no small feat considering all of the all-time greats who have donned the iconic purple and gold jerseys over the years.

One player is often considered to be greater than the other, though. Many people consider James to be in the debate for the greatest basketball player of all time and see Bryant as more of a long shot in the discussion.

Former Lakers center Dwight Howard, who played alongside both players at different points during his NBA tenure, shares the belief that James is better than Bryant, but he also said that he would rather put the ball in Bryant’s hands in the clutch.

“Damn, man, with everything combined, you got to give it to LeBron,” Howard said when asked to choose who’s better.

He then added some nuance.

“Scoring-wise, I got to say I like Kobe,” he said. “If it’s late in the game, I’m giving the ball to Kobe. I’m not gonna give the ball to LeBron late in the game. I’m gonna give it to Kobe.”

Bryant made more game-winning buzzer-beaters than almost any player in NBA history with an impressive eight to his name. It’s worth noting, however, that James has also made eight of his own, putting Bryant and James in a tie with former NBA star Joe Johnson (also eight) for second on the list behind NBA icon Michael Jordan (nine).

But even when putting buzzer-beaters aside, Bryant was known for his play in the clutch. He retired with a reputation as an ultimate winner. He won five championships during his time with the Lakers across multiple eras of basketball.

First, he won three consecutive titles playing alongside big man Shaquille O’Neal in the early 2000s. Then, he won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 with the likes of center Pau Gasol and forward Lamar Odom complementing him.

James has had greater longevity in the NBA than Bryant did. While he also has him beat in plenty of other areas on his resume, championships aren’t one of those areas. Assuming James suits up in the 2025-26 season, he will be looking for his fifth title in his 23rd NBA campaign.

Impressively, James has won at least one title with three different teams — the Lakers, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers — but it’s been a little while since he was last on top of the basketball world. He last won an NBA title earlier on in his stint with the Lakers back in 2020.